<p>You can always tell the difference between those who post in these forums to actually help students and parents and those who post in order to attempt to get in a internet-based “my school is better than yours” contest with other members over their respective schools. I didn’t post in this forum to debate the validity of ranking systems. I post to help get kids get accurate information so that they make an informed decision about where they spend the next 4 years of their lives. I don’t bad mouth schools, simply because every institution has something different to offer depending on what a student is looking for. Judging from your overwhelming superiority complex and unwavering support of GA Tech, I assume that you are a GT student or graduate which is sad because in trying to discredit UGA by applying various subjective rankings and labels, you are actually making the GA Tech student population look bad (personality wise). In saying this, maybe this was your plan all along and you don’t like GA Tech either? Regardless, here are some interesting things taken from THE that make me stand by my “take with a grain of salt” statement:
- The Top 400 list (with an overall criteria selected) has Arizona State University (127) ranked above University of Virginia (135) and Georgetown (138). Although they say size is not a factor in rankings, I’m not sure how you can ignore the fact that ASU is creeping toward 100,000 students (it’s almost an open enrollment institution). They still put out some awesome students but when you have over 70,000 total students, it only makes sense. Not really sure how that works out, but it looks like ASU has a higher score under citations (which they say have been normed to account for size).
- “No project that seeks to reduce the amazing variety of university activity into a single ranked list can ever be perfect, but Times Higher Education can make bullish claims for the sophistication and utility of its annual World University Rankings.” -Phil Baty; Rankings Editor
- Georgia Health Sciences University is ranked (197). I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even know that they had undergraduate programs available. Probably because they have 7 undergraduate degree programs (all in specified medical fields). Once again, straight from the horse’s mouth:
“Universities are excluded from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings if they do not teach undergraduates; if they teach only a single narrow subject; or if their research output amounted to fewer than 1,000 articles between 2005 and 2009 (200 a year).” Article: [Change</a> for the better](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/analysis-rankings-methodology.html]Change”>World University Rankings 2010-11 methodology | Times Higher Education (THE))</p>
<p>The main thing I note is the “if they teach only a single narrow subject”. Clearly they made an exception in this case, because GHSU is pretty much a medical school from what I gather on their website and degree offerings</p>
<p>4) My final point from a Washington Post article that backs my second point: “It’s purely subjective opinion,” said Phil Baty, editor of the rankings. “But it’s a really good, quality sample.” Article: [Six</a> colleges dominate in research stature - College, Inc. - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/six-colleges-dominate-in-research-stature/2012/03/27/gIQA1gUFeS_blog.html]Six”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/six-colleges-dominate-in-research-stature/2012/03/27/gIQA1gUFeS_blog.html)</p>
<p>Like I said, take ranking systems with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>CFB53B, feel free to send me a message if you want to have a longer dialogue about rankings. I feel as though your time would be better spent promoting your school in it’s own forum, rather than attempting to downplay others. More than likely you will post after this in order to get “the last word” which is completely fine. </p>
<p>Sorry to everyone for the digression from the original question that was asked.</p>